Sweepstakes

Sweepstakes are a way of fundraising or betting by pooling money, then giving each participant a randomly drawn entrant in a horse race, harness race or greyhound race. Prizes are then given from the pool of money collected.

Sweepstakes don’t need a licence if:

it is run by an association on its own behalf

the gross proceeds are less than $2,000

the prizes don’t include banned goods or services

all money collected is used for prizes.

You must be 18 years or older to participate.

Calcutta Sweepstake

A Calcutta Sweepstake is a way of fundraising where the chance of winnings from a race, game or sporting event is auctioned to ticket holders.

A Calcutta doesn’t need a lottery licence if:

the gross proceeds are less than $15,000

it is run by an association

the prizes don’t include banned goods or services.

A Calcutta may only be conducted for:

a horse race, harness race or greyhound race

the final of the Bay Sheffield Foot Race.

Guidelines for a Calcutta Sweepstake

all runners must be auctioned

tickets prices must be set before the auction and race

only ticket holders can be in the auction and draw

if the draw happens on a different day from the race, the results must be announced to everyone who has a ticket

the amount of the pool must be announced before the auction and progressive totals must be announced after each runner is sold

if a ticket holder doesn’t join or doesn’t win at the auction, they forfeit their ticket

if a ticket holder wins the auction, they pay the amount of the bid minus the amount already paid for the ticket.

if the person who drew the runner isn’t at the auction, their ticket can be sold to someone else.

Proceeds

For a sweepstake, the total value of prizes must be at least 20% of the gross proceeds. At least 35% of the gross proceeds, as well as all net proceeds, must be used for an approved purpose.

For a Calcutta sweepstake, the running costs can’t be more than 10% of the gross proceeds. All remaining money must be used for prizes.

The funds raised can’t be used to benefit a member of an association or a registered corporation that returns profits to its members.

Tickets

All tickets must be sold at the same price and have an equal chance of winning.

Tickets can’t be sold more than three months before the race.

If tickets are sold before the day of the draw, or at a different location:

each ticket and butt must contain the name of the association, the name of the race and the date, place and time of the draw

the butt of each ticket must contain the contact details of the buyer

the draw must happen on the day, place and time stated on the ticket.

You can’t offer incentives to participate, other than the prizes.

Drawing

Each person must be notified of the runner they have drawn before the race. A list of names in the draw must be read out and displayed straight after the draw.

Prizes

All winners must be given their prize or notified of the time and place they can collect it, within four days of the race. Unclaimed prizes must be kept for three months.

Record keeping

Records of a sweepstake must be kept for three months from the date it was drawn.